Highest-ranking Maoist leader Devuji surrenders (Headed CPI (Maoist) Central Military Commission for last two decades), Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji, the highest-ranking member of the CPI (Maoist), surrendered in Telangana along with 20 cadres.
• Devuji headed the Central Military Commission of the CPI (Maoist) for two decades and created the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army in 2000.
• The surrender occurred ahead of the March 31 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to end the Maoist movement in the country.
• Since 2024, over 500 Maoists have been killed in security operations, including CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju.
• The Maoist party's armed cadre strength has decreased significantly, from 2,200 in January 2024 to just 180, supported by a militia base of 1,000 people.

Detailed Insights:

• Devuji's surrender leaves only one active member in the Politburo, Misir Besra, and approximately five active members in the Central Committee, down from nearly 50.
• Devuji, aged 62 and carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, reportedly contacted the Telangana Police to surrender, unrelated to operations in Chhattisgarh.
• The Maoist party experienced a two-line rift, with some supporting surrender and others advocating continued armed resistance in the forests.
• Devuji joined the Maoist party in the 1980s when it was known as the People’s War Group (PWG), which merged with the Maoist Communist Centre in 2004.
• As a leader from the Madiga Dalit community, Devuji's leadership was considered pivotal for rallying cadre, including Adivasis, but the party was weakened by the time he rose to the top.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CPI (Maoist): A banned communist political party and militant organization in India.
• Central Military Commission: The body responsible for military strategy and operations of the CPI (Maoist).
• People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army: The armed wing of the CPI (Maoist), responsible for carrying out attacks and military actions.